Police in Kasungu are keeping in custody six suspects accused of manufacturing fake Malawi Kwacha and United States dollar banknotes and distributing the fake currency in various areas across the country.
The six suspects were arrested earlier this week in a joint operation by a team comprising Kasungu Police detectives and Reserve Bank of Malawi investigators.
Kasungu Public Relations Officer Harry Namwaza said the suspects have also exposed the source where the counterfeit currencies both local and foreign were being manufactured.
According to Namwaza, the arrest of the six suspects comes amid rigorous investigations by Kasungu police detectives and RBM investigators which were instituted after police in the district on September 8 nabbed a man identified as Filodi Goodson aged 35 for being found in possession of K320,000 in K2000 fake banknotes all bearing one serial number AT4426785.
“Following the joint investigative operation that followed, six suspects have been nabbed and in the process 994 pieces of counterfeit notes in 100 US Dollars amounting to $99,400 have been recovered,” he said.
The suspects are identified as Dave Shumba, 42, of Mwinama village, TA Chilowoko in Ntchisi; Gerald Banda, 45, of Chikhombo village, TA Pitala in Mchinji; Ibrahim Makina, 41, of Yasini village, TA Chikowi in Zomba; Lameck Banda, 43, of Yamwala village, TA Wimbe in Kasungu; Alick Tchuma, 54, of Phuka village, TA Kwataine in Ntcheu and Martha Nyirenda, 30, of Chapuwala village, TA Chakhaza in Dowa.
The officers have also confiscated a Dell monitor, two colour printers (HP and Canon), and Dell CPU which were used in the manufacturing of the counterfeit currencies at the house of Dave Shumba.
According RBM Senior Investigator, Emmanuel Malasa, the serial number which the fake banknotes bear is the same to that on the fake banknotes that were earlier recovered in Kasungu, Mangochi and Mponela.
The suspects will appear in court on Monday to answer charges that have been levelled against them.
